An answer to a scurrilous pamphlet intituled, Observations upon a compleat history of the lives and reignes of Mary, Queen of Scotland, and of her son, King James ... the libeller, without a name, set out by G. Bedell and T. Collins, two booksellers / but the history vindicated by the authour William Sanderson, Esq.

Page 3.

[For this man himselfe (saies he) he lived, for ought I could ever hear (he hath enquired) at first, very obscurely, and studied He∣rauldry.]

I never durst presume to the knowledge of that noble Science and Study, Herauldry, other then an admirer of that, and such like, ho∣nourable Studies, becomming a Gentleman, not to be wholly ignorant of, in some proportion; nor am I, in this particular, so far profici∣ent, as to distinguish a Barr in Bearing, to signifie a Bastard.

And so much acquainted I have been with Littleton, as to be Se∣cretary to the Master of the Wards and Liveries, untill his death, who succeeded Cicell, the Earl of Salisbury.

[He tells us (saies he) that he was servant to the Lord Rosse, in his Spanish Embassie; a fit Servant no doubt for such a Master;

for what that Lord was is notoriously known to most men, yet living.]

I tell you so now, but never before, that I was secretary to the Lord Rosse, being Ambassador extraordinary, to the King of Spaine, who though well known to many men, whilst he lived, yet I beleeve (by your favour Sir) Not notoriously known to most men yet living. You notoriously, are mistaken; a million to one, that is odds enough. How ever, expect not of me, to ravell into your meaning, what that Lord was?

In my returne homewards from Spain, and after some stay in France, I came to Court; where it pleased that very reverent Prelate Iames Mountague, Lord Bishop of VV••nchester, to receive me neer his Person, during his life; He having the honour to be admitted into King Iames Bedchamber (never any Church man so, before or since:) Pre∣late of the Garter, and Privy Councellour▪ & some have since observed his power with that King and great interest in Ecclesiasticall affaires, (an Observator, concerning him therein, must amend his mistaken notes) his vertues and learning, I did reverence; my poor indeavours could merit but little, though I had the meanes and occasion to im∣prove, and so much of his esteem, which continued me in grace and favour which his right Honorable Brother the Earle of Man∣chester, Lord Privy seal; and the Lord Mountague: Who were pleased to own me, a professed servant (as I am) to all that noble family.

He was at the siege of Breda under the Earle of Oxford, to whom he gives the title of debost Lord.

Not to be wholly ignorant of war, and a fair occasion offered, I was at the siege of Breda with the Earle of Oxford; secretary and paymaster to the Regiment▪ and very often upon duty; and the Ensigne being hurt, I bore his colours in the march into Cleveland & at the taking in of the Town of Cleve, but a volunteer in arms: being often sent over into England, to attend our Councell of Warr here, who disposed the English, in reference to that designe, of assisting the Dutch, against the house of Austria. And in my Book, taking occasion to answere the calumnies throughout the History of great Brittain, wherein the Au∣thor, Page 161. [Oxford (sayes he,) was of no reputation in his youth, being very deboshed and riotous, & having no meanes, maintai∣ned it by sordid and unworthy wayes] In answere to whom, I derive that Earles high extraction, & descent from his first Ancesters & their Creations; this man (say I) was now returned home from travell, to recover his former debaucheries, &c. And my observator suffering the

other words from One printed 1653. quarrells now with mine, which rebukes the other, but modestly as to the truth.

And certainly, Sir, these imployments of mine, are not over contemp∣tible, nor masked, unlesse to your obscure condition, [That can not learn (as you say) that this man, meaning me, had ever any relation to the Court, more than at large; untill he became secretary to the Earle of Holland, when he was Chancellor of Cambridge (which he never was (wise aker) but of the University) where he behaved himselfe (you say) so corruptly, that he was in great disgrace and scorne, tur∣ned out of his place, for taking bribes of divers Scholers, to make them Doctors and Batchelors of Divinity, when the King came to an Inter∣tainment at Cambridge, (With the Maior he meanes) so that for a long time after, those men were by every boy, called Sandersons Doctors.]

How this Scandall doth trench upon the University in generall, and upon the worthy Graduates, then Commencers, in particular, I submit to their wisdomes; not minding to mix so grave an Accusa∣tion, with petty single Interrest of other things, in this place; but, to refer the Vindication as an Appendix to this Discourse, being of some consequence to be considered by it selfe, and that not briefly neither: For, untill this Libeller without a Name, no other Calumni∣ator durst ever be so impudent, as once to tax those proceedings upon them or me.

[A pretty while after, he saies (which was many years before) he married the late Queenes Landresse, and so m••ght perchance creep (again) into her chamber below st••irs.]

A scandall upon her, of double sense, as if I had crept thither before Marriage; to which her self makes answer, That she is a Gentlewo∣man tender of a scandall, and of the antient Family of Tyrrill, and Sister to the now Sir Edward Tyrrill of Thornton, in the County of Buckingham, Knight and Baronet. That by her Office and Title, (Mrs. Landresse to the Queenes Body) and by her birth besides, was alwaies a Companion above stairs, for a better woman then a Libellers Wife, were he of more fame then him we suspect; and as for her hone∣sty, she never had a Damarah to her Daughter, before she had a Hus∣band. And Mr. Sanderson was able with above a 1000l. to buy her this place, and not to beg it. That she never falsified her Oath▪ nor was perfidious to her Soveraigne. This is somewhat sharp Sir (a wo∣mans honour is concerned) 'tis her own inck I'le assure you, without any gaul of mine Sir; and you are well that it is no worse.

[And now (saies he) I shall proceed to examine some particulars in his Book, and decline any thing concerning the Queen of Scot••, or that part of the story.]

It is the first part of my History (the whole containing above 600. large folioes) to which his Reading hath not reached so far before, being 128 folio, and not a fault to be found.

[Only he will observe some passages of Queen Elizabeths Raigne, that I give a harsher censure upon Essex and his offences, then any Writer heretofore.]

Not by a hundred. He loves Traitors with his heart, it seems, and b•• no means would have them, nor their Treason harshly censured. I•• I thought it were not dangerous for his health, I could turn him to the Authors; for so he finding the truth, might despair and hang himselfe.

Then he traverseth back again, and but•• a word. [He seemes (saies he) to intimate out of some discourse, between Secretary Davi∣son and Queen Elizabeth, that she would have had the Queen of Scots poysoned by Pawlet and D••ury, which they refused.]

All Authors herein, English, Scotish, Latine, French, Spanish, do intimate a cunning unwilling willingnesse in Queen Elizabeth, to stain her honour in the blood of the Queen of Scots, her Kinswoman, and next to succeed to this Crown; and yet desirous to be rid of her one way or another, she treats with Davison, out and in, what to do. He to be quit of the mischiefe (by example of Burleigh, for the hasty execution of Norfolk) advises with Hatton, and utterly refuses to en∣gage any further, untill the Councill encouraged him. Davison watch∣ing her doubtfull humour▪ asked her plainly, if her minde were al∣tered? No, (said she) but some other course might be taken: And de∣manded if Pawlet had returned his answer, whose Letters directly refusing to undertake it, as neither honourable nor just, she, in a chafe, said▪ That there were many amongst them, that would do more in their own cause. But Davison told her of the infamy, injustice, and hazard to Pawlet and Drury: For Madam (said he) if you allow the fact, you draw upon your selfe danger and disgrace; and if you dis∣allow it, you ruine them and their Posterity.

Upon all these dissemblings, I concluded.

Hereby (said I) appears foul play, intended by another (no doubt) wicked way, which Pawlet and Drury boggled at to perform; and yet we see what daubing there was on all sides, to cast the blame and

after-shame on any, to keep the stain and blot from the eminent actours, Folio 128. But to all the other stuffe, his nonsence, Tua non mordet; I pitty his ignorance, and disdain to answer, but refer to the History, Folio 127.

Notes

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